WCWU Response to 3/6 Training for Supervisors
The following is a copy of correspondence sent out to the WCWU members email list on Mar. 05, 2026, published for archival purposes and to ensure important information is accessible to all of our members and supporters. Some sensitive information or original attachments may be omitted.
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Hello again Whitman Friends and Colleagues,
This message is in regards to the upcoming “training for supervisors / managers,” held via Zoom tomorrow, 3/6. This session claims to be covering topics such as “appropriate communication practices,” and “guidance on responding to employee questions or concerns.” I want to thank those of you who reached out to confirm whether or not you received this email; thank you. We have discovered that these emails are being sent to:
Those who supervise student workers
Those who had previously hired student workers but no longer do
Positions that had previously been in a supervisory role but no longer are
Individuals that do not hire / do not conduct performance reviews
In addition to longstanding supervisor positions. This is concerning, as it demonstrates that the role of supervisor has stretched beyond our historical interpretation. It is a clear tactic to break up our unit and delegitimize our union.
What to Do
Consider not attending. If the idea of attending a captive audience meeting makes you uncomfortable, you are encouraged to not attend the March 6th meeting. We’ve been informed that a recording of this session will not be made available which further hints that this may be the case. WCWU representatives will be at the meeting and will be able to take notes to share with others.
Brush up on union busting. “Union busting” is any attempt by management to try to stop or inhibit workers’ legally protected right to form a union at their place of work. Checkout the Union Busting Dialogue Examples and How to Respond section in this blog post to brush up on possible dialogues at the meeting.
Get a Bingo! If you attend, print off the attached union busting bingo sheet so you can score! This one-sided conversation can be more fun than they think.
We Are Whitman
Lastly, the March 5th email from Vice President for Finance and Administration, Jeff Hamrick, notified faculty and staff that The Board of Trustees have decided to decline voluntary recognition. Misleadingly, he states that “…The Board of Trustees has voted to decline the WCWU’s demand to bypass a vote.” But we, the workers of Whitman College, did vote.
We voted to unionize, with a 70% super majority
We are the staff working for a brighter future for our families and the college
We uphold Whitman’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by fighting for thriving working conditions for one another
We now know that a union busting law firm has been hired to advise in conducting these communications which go against Whitman’s core values. Rather than invest in us, they’ve chosen to invest in union busting.
But we, Whitman College Workers United, are Whitman. And we’ve chosen to unionize.
I couldn’t be more proud.